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Crysbelle Lopez Professor Lynda Haas Writing 37 November 24, 2013 World War Z Essay The form in which a literary text is presented to its audience depicts the basic structure and fundamentals of a particular genre. Like many writers, Max Brooks developed his story World War Z as a novel. World War Z is based on a series of interviews taken by the interviewer ten years after the greatest zombie epidemic, the Great Panic. Each conversation within the novel helps create a worldwide perspective on how one world came together to combat the same enemy despite their many differences. The basic purpose of a novel is to depict and interpret human character in which the reader is both entertained and aided in a deeper perception of lifes problems (Taormina). In order to bring about these particular characteristics, a novel must consist of three important conventions, which include: a cohesive structure which includes continuity, sharply individualized and authentic characterization of characters that are relatable to the readers and the problems they might encounter, and a persistent illusion of reality and the cultural conflicts that are taking place in current times. In Max Brookss World War Z novel, these particular conventions are present throughout, making it a perfect example of what the novel genre is all about. One of the many conventions found in novels is that of a distinct novel structure. In the case of World War Z, its particular plot structure is what helps distinguish it from other

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novels and develop an entertaining structure for readers to enjoy. The novel is divided into eight chapters, each consisting of various interviews which the interviewer carried out with different people in distinct places around the world. Max Brookss did not set these conversations in order by date or by place of occurrence, instead, he divided them into chapters which help distinguish the main idea behind each discussion. As stated by Steven H Silver--a bibliographer, publisher, and editor-- in his review World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, the fact that Max Brookss carried out this unique layout is what helped the book establish a totally global feel as people remember the way the zombies behaved in warm climates like Canada or tropical places like the tropical island of Manihi. At the same time, Brooks is able to show how different cultures dealt with the zombie menace and how the zombies, who are essentially mindless, react to different environments. It is the global feel established in the novel that creates a more personal relationship with the readers, resulting in the captivation of its audience. According to well known American novelist, screenwriter, and producer Nicholas Sparks in his excerpt The Four Basic Elements of Any Novel, its these types of plots which are defined by readers with the simple phrase, I couldnt put the book down. A fundamental concept which a novel includes in its overall structure is continuity. In Max Brookss novel, readers are given countless of interviews from various narrators. The format of this particular novel, as mentioned before, is nothing like other novels. There is no particular order to the set up of these conversations, but they are placed by the author in a way in which continuity is easily established. One particular section of the novel in which continuity is seen is in the section entitled Blame. In this section, continuity is observed between the interviews of Breck Scott, the doctor behind the invention of the vaccine Phalanx; Grover Carlson, the fuel collector and White House Chief of Staff who helped pass the vaccine; and

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Mary Jo Miller, a normal citizen who utilized the vaccine. When coming upon Breck Scotts interview, readers are told about the real purpose of the Phalanx vaccine. Breck mentions how it protected [citizens] from their fears. Thats all [he] was selling (54). Breck Scott was not looking to cure the epidemic; he simply sought for a way to make some cash off of other peoples fear. His interview gives the perspective of communism behind government actions and how they would do anything to make money from others. Following Breck Scotts conversation is that of Chief of Staff Grover Carlson. In his interview, Grover discusses about his involvement in the passing of the Phalanx vaccine. He knew Phalanx was a placebo, and [was] grateful for it. It calmed people down and let [him] do [his] job (56). Breck Scott, being the mastermind behind the making of the fake vaccine, reveals the conspiracy behind government actions and Grover Carlson gives a vivid representation of the falsehood behind government honesty. Having the authority, Grover helped pass the vaccine under the Department of Health and Human Services despite the fact that it was not effective just to be able to worry about what he believed was more important without having the complains of citizens hovering over his head. Grover, as well as many other government officials, sought to relieve themselves from the citizens uncomforted and fear just so that they could focus on the true enemy during this great epidemic, the zombies. Alongside these two examples of corrupt government, Mary Jo Miller is introduced after Grovers conversation as a simple representation of civilians who became victim to governments actions. At the time of the Great Panic, Mary Jo Miller was a woman, who worried greatly not about the epidemic itself, but of the material things such as bills, car payments, student loans, etc. She realized that she had to act upon the events that were occurring around her; and so Mary and her family utilized the Phalanx vaccine just to establish a sense of safety.

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She explains how [they] were all on Phalanx, Piece of Phalanx, Peace of Mind. That was [their] way of being prepared (62). Like Mary Jo Miller, many citizens were gullible to governments suggestions and did whatever they thought would be of great benefit to their survival rate. Although many of them might have known that the vaccine was nothing but a placebo, they convinced themselves into believe that it would bring them a greater chance at surviving the epidemic. All together, these conversations create a sense of continuity by connecting the perspective of the creator, the action doer, and the user of this vaccine. This shows the readers the various points of views from all three different perspectives and the reasons behind why they did what they did. Another important aspect of this novels unique structure in categorizing the various conversations is the distinct points-of-view from the interviews. Author Juliette Wade explains in her blog TalkToYoUniverse: What Does Choice of POV Mean? that the most basic thing that point of view does is allow you, as a writer, to control information. In Max Brooks novel, all the discussions have distinct points of view. Throughout the novel, the author utilizes a combination of both first and third person point of views. Interviews like that of Sharon, the autistic girls, give readers the first person perspective. The first person perspective allows readers to depict the human response to war and the actions taken in order to survive. Other discussions such as that of the Interviewer give readers the third person perspective of the story. This specific view allows readers to establish a connection with the characters in the novel. Many of the questions which the interviewer makes to the personnel of his discussions are some questions that the readers themselves would ask. This allows for clarification within the readers and helps them obtain a better understanding on what exactly is going on during the conversations. It is

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within these interviews of the novel that readers encounter the various individualized and authentic characters. Novels are often accredited for their use of individualized and authentic characterization on its characters. There are a little over 43 distinct characters present in Max Brookss novel, each individually described by the interviewer at the start of their interviews. One of the many characters presented through the progression of the novel includes Jurgen Warmbrunn. Jurgen Warmbrunn is an Israeli spy who can be seen as one of the many protagonist in World War Z. He is one of the writers behind the Warmbrunn-Knight report, which is a 100 page report on strategies in which the zombie epidemic could have been prevented from becoming global. Readers are able to perceive him as being a very precautious and persisting man. His precautious characteristic is seen when he neglected the idea of the Reds talking about the reanimation of actual dead bodies (28) as being true. Jurgen let the matter drop, tried to forget about it. Still, as one of [our] great national heroes used to say: [His] spider sense was tingling (29). Readers encounter his persistence at the conclusion of his interview when Jurgen exclaims that no matter how unlikely or far-fetched a possibility might be, one must always dig deeperyou dig and dig until you strike the absolute truth (29). Another distinct character found in the novel is Jesika Hendricks. Like all the other characters which the interviewer interrogates, readers are given a general background on her story. During the Great Panic, Jesika Hendricks didnt do much since she was only a child at that time. Unlike Jurgen who was in all his power to do whatever he could to warn others of the epidemic and provide safety strategies to the people around him, Jesikas hands were tied. She explains how she doesnt blame the government, the people in charge of protecting them from harm, but what she will not forget is the irresponsible way they did it, the lack of vital

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information that would have helped so many to stay alive (118). What continues to haunt Jesika years after the occurrence of this tragic incident is the unfairness of it all (330). Years after the Great Panic she sees who survivor of this tragic incident live their lives doing things that are disrespectful and uncalled for. After having heard a radio broadcast from someone she knew, and listening to him do his usual thing: fart jokes and insults and adolescent sexuality (330) she remembers thinking to herself, This man survived and my parents didnt (330). Jesika Hendricks illustrated the struggles many people have when trying to cope with the outcome of various situations. It is very hard to understand why things happen to certain people; a clear answer can never be given to those who ask for a reason why certain things happen to them. However, Jesika Hendricks character in the novel shows how even though her will of helping during the Great Panic was limited, she was to continue on with her life and not be caught up in the mistakes of the past. One must utilize these mistakes and strive to move forward in our future. Each character in the novel is individually described to the readers to give them a more realistic personality, which in turn allows the readers to connect with them in a more personal level. It is through the incorporation of realistic characters that novels are cable of creating a persistent illusion of reality. Novels are written to create a persistent illusion of reality and connect it to those events occurring in the real world today. Throughout the novel, there are numerous cultural connections made towards the current issues the United States is facing. An issue of the New York Times dated April 2013 made it known that North Korea has been issuing near-daily threats against the United States and South Korea. The threats from North Korea reached extremes as they proclaimed to possible carry-out a pre-emptive nuclear strike against its enemy. The Korean Crisis caused great tension and fear amongst the nations as the word of a war began

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to roam around the ears of the people. In World War Z, this particular crisis is conveyed midway of the novel in the section entitled, The Demilitarized Zone: South Korea. Readers are given a detailed description of the events occurring in North Korea during the start of the outbreak through Korean CIA Deputy Hyungchol Chois interview. He describes how the population of North Korea began to diminish as if the entire country, every man, woman, and child in North Korea, had simply vanished (190). Years after the Great Panic has ended, Hyungchol Choi continues to push on conducting an expedition to North Korea to figure out what exactly is going on in the other side, but he continues to be blocked at every turn. There is too much work to do, they tell [him] (199). This specific denotation of the novel conveys one of the greatest social anxieties, the fear of the unknown. Society, to this day, has no clue as to what is going on in North Korea and what plans they are undermining. The mystery and uncertainty of not knowing what is going on in this particular area of the world brings fear into society. The idea of having no control over the situation is what people fear the most. The sense of power over a certain situation helps build a sense of ease and that is something nations like the United States are used to having, power. However, in the case with North Korea there is a sense of vulnerability where not much can be done except show no fear towards the enemy and hope for no drastic measures to be made. World War Z, by Max Brooks, illustrates all the basic fundamentals of a novel genre. With its distinct novel set up alongside its continuity and points of view, relatable characters, and connections to cultural issues of todays world; the novel is able to create a personal connection with its reader allowing them to reflect with the occurrences taking place throughout the novel. It is this relationship that keeps the readers constantly looking for the resolution; the conclusion of

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the problem in hopes of attained the solution they have developed through the progression of the story.

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Work Cited Brooks, Max. World War Z: An oral history of the zombie war. New York: Crown, 2006. Choe, Sand-Hun and Jake Doherty. "In Focus: North Koreas Nuclear Threats."The New York Times. N.p., 12 April 2013. Web. 23 November 2013 Silver, Steven H. "The SF Site Featured Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War." The SF Site Featured Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. 2006. Crown Publisher. 12 Nov. 2013 http://www.sfsite.com/12a/ww237.htm Sparks, Nicholas. "Writer's Library." Writers Library. 2013. AutoCrit Editing Wizard. 12 Nov. 2013 http://www.autocrit.com/editing/library/the-four-basic-elements-ofany-novel/ Taormina, Dr. Agatha. "Definition of the Novel." Definition of the Novel. Ed. JuneJuly 2008. 12 Nov. 2013 http://www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/novels/history/define.htm Wade, Juliette. TalkToYoUniverse: What Does Choice of Point of View Mean N.P., 28 February 2011. Web. 22 November 2013.